On October 7, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) honored Executive Director Ben Grumbles and ECOS as the 2025 recipients of the prestigious Environmental Achievement Award at a well-attended ELI dinner in Washington, DC. The award recognized them for “innovation in strengthening state environmental leadership and cooperative federalism.”
Accepting the award from former U.S. EPA Administrator William K. Reilly, Grumbles expressed ECOS’ appreciation for the honor and support. He remarked that ECOS is “committed to steady bipartisan environmental leadership and to rejecting the national trend of toxic politics that divide and destroy the foundations of America.”
Ahead of the award dinner, ELI hosted a Firestone Policy Forum on Cooperative Federalism and State-Level Approaches to Environmental and Energy Policy, featuring ECOS members James Jennings of Illinois, Shawn LaTourette of New Jersey, and Julie Moore of Vermont, along with ECOS alumnus David Paylor of Virginia. The panel discussion, moderated by ELI President Jordan Diamond, explored the evolving dynamics of cooperative federalism in environmental and energy governance.
Panelists discussed what Diamond called the “wavering arc of cooperative federalism,” particularly in light of federal funding pressures. Moore noted that “cooperative federalism works when state-federal partnerships are stable and well-funded,” and Jennings observed that while states remain committed to cooperative federalism, ECOS members are now taking on greater leadership roles.
Responding to a question about U.S. EPA’s elimination and reorganization of the Office of Research & Development, LaTourette described EPA research as a “critical linkage that protects public health.” Paylor emphasized the importance of federal research in creating a “level playing field across the country,” enabling state agencies to make science-based decisions.
ECOS thanks ELI for the recognition and for the opportunity to participate in this engaging conversation.
